Heel-seat fitting machine



1930. J. GOULDBOURN ET AL HEEL SEAT FITTING MACHINE Filed July 15, 1927 2 Sheets$heet 1 Jan. 7, 1930. I J. GOULDBOURN ET AL. 3

HEEL SEAT FITTING MACHINE Filed July 15, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 7, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH GOULDBOURN AND FRED RICKS, OF LEICESTER, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPO- RATION OF NEW JERSEY HEEL-SEAT FITTING MACHINE Application filed July 15, 1927, Serial No. 206,062, and in Great Britain July 28, 1926.

This invention relates to machines for use in the manufacture of shoes and is illustrated as embodied in a heel-seat fitting machine. The heel-seat fitting operation which is commonly performed in the manufacture of shoes having wooden heels consists of trimming surplus stock from the periphery of the heel-seat portion of the sole of a shoe, so that the edge of the wood heel may bear directly against the lasted-in margin of the counter portion of the shoe upper, thus concealing the edge of the heel-seat portion of the sole.

Good shoe-making requires that the heel-seat portion of the sole be shaped substantially to conform to the shape of the concave attaching surfaces of the Wood heel which is to be applied to the shoe. Accordingly it is usual to bevel the periphery of the heel-seat portion of the sole.

In recent years heel-seat fitting machines have come into use. These machines are especially adapted for operating upon shoes the heel-seat portions of which are attached, for example, by stitching or by paper pegs. It is an object of the present invention to provide a heel-seat fitting machine which will be especially adapted for operating upon shoes the heel-seat portions of the soles of which are unattached or loose.

In accordance with this object, a feature of the invention as embodied in the illustrated machine comprises one or more solesupporting plates arranged to be received between the loose heel-seat portion of the sole of a shoe and the lasted-in marginof the counter portion of the upper and the insole of the shoe in combination with a presser member arranged to engage the tread surface of the sole of a shoe to clamp the sole to the supporting plates while surplus material is trimmed from the peripheral portion of the heel-seat of the sole. To avoid damage to the sole attaching fast-enings immediately forward of the heel breast line (for example stitching by which the sole is secured to the shoe) these sole-supporting plates, preferably and as illustrated, taper toward their forward edges which are located approximately at the heel breast line adjacent to the 59 rear ends of the sole attaching seam,

In accordance with another feature of the invention the illustrated machine is provided with a pair ofknives, one upon each side of the shoe, and transversely movable inwardly from the opposite edges of the sole, the cut-- ting edges of each knife reaching substantially from the heel breast line to the rear end of the sole of the shoe operated on and being formed so that a single reciprocation of the knives bevels substantially the entire periphery of the heel-seat ortion of the sole. These knives are pre erably inclined forwardly and upwardly so that as they pass lnwardly from the edges of the shoe they also pass from the attaching surface toward the tread surface of the sole thus beveling the periphery of the heel-seat.

A further feature of the invention comprlses a hold-down member formed to engage the rear portion of the sole of a shoe to be operated upon and having a substantially T- shaped sole-engaging portion, the cross bar of the T being arranged to extend transversely across the sole in the vicinity of the heel breast line and the stem of the T to extend from the cross bar toward the rear end of the sole. Preferably and as illustrated the cross bar of the Tis concaveto conformto the transverse curvature of the sole of the shoe in the vicinity of the heel breast line and the end of the stem of the T remote from the cross bar is convex to permit the rear portion of the sole to be deformed or displaced upwardly away from the lasted-in margin of the shoe upper.

A further feature of the invention comprises novel heel controlled mechanism for determining the extent of the heel-seat fitting operation. As illustrated this includes a back gage having a V-shaped opening arranged to position a shoe lengthwise in the machine and a heel gage having a gage member with an opening approximately V-shaped to engage the rear end of a heel such as is to be attached to the shoe together with a member to en- 7 thickness toward their forward edges so.

heel-engaging members to the back gage for adjusting the position of the latter in accordance with the relative position of the heelengaging members. As illustrated herein, means are also PIOVlClEd for engagement with the shoe in the vicinity of the heel breast line to center the shoe in the machine and for engagement near the forward portion of the side edges of the heel to center the heel in the gage, the gage member which engages the rear of the heel being mounted for transverse movement and being connected with the corresponding back gage so as to position the back gage transversely to correspond to the sha of the heel if, for example, the heel should b unsymmetrical.

With the above and other objects and features in view the invention will now be described in connection with the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation partly in section of the head of a machine embodying the invention with certain parts in section and parts removed;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the head of the machine of Fig. 1, partly in section and with certain parts removed;

Fig. 3 is a plan View on an enlarged scale of the knife-supporting means of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation partly in section of the parts shown in Fig. 3 and their suprts; Fig. Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 illustrates mechanism by which the sole-supporting plates may be normally retracted and be moved to operative position after the shoe is in the machine;

Fig. 7 illustrates somewhat diagrammatically the rear portion of a sole the heel-seat of which has been fitted by the illustrated machine;

Figs. 8 and 9 are a front elevation and a side elevation respectively of a hold-down member with which the machine is provided, and Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the same hold-down in operative relation to the heelseat portion of the sole of a shoe.

The illustrated heel seat fitting machine is provided with a pair of sole-supporting plates arranged to be introduced, one from each side, between the loose heel-seat portion of the sole and the lasted-in margin of the counter portion of the upper and the insole of a shoe to the shank and forepart of which the sole is attached, these plates supporting substantially the whole of the heel-seat portion of the sole, from its edge to its median portion, and being tapered or reduced in 5 is a section on-the line VV of as to avoid straining or otherwise injuring the sole attaching scam in the vicinity of the heel breast line; A, hold-down member s provided in opposed relation to the sole-supporting. plates and is utilized to clamp the sole to the plates during the trimming operation. The upper surfaces of the sole-supporting plates are concave so that when the sole is clamped it is deformed and is deflected upwardly around the periphery of the heel seat into the path of a pair of transversely movable knives, one upon each side of the machine, having their cutting edges so formed that a single reciprocation of the knives bevels the entire periphery of the heel-seat of the sole. Another pair of horizontally movable knives are provided to cut heel breast receiving shoulders at the forward end of the bevel formed by the first knives and suitable shoe-positioning means are provided to determine the dimensions to which the heelseat is trimmed and to insure the proper rpllation of the trimming cut to the-sole of the s cc.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the illustrated machine is provided with a head 10 carried by a column or other suitable support and provided with a horizontal dovetailed groove 11 in which is mounted a pair of slides 13 each carrying an upwardly inclined sole-supporting plate 12 thus mounted for sliding movement beneath the loose or unattached heel-seat portion of the sole of a shoe to be operated on. Properly to position the shoe in the machine there is provided a back gage 14: having a substantially V- shaped shoe engaging opening 16 shown in Fig. 2. Forwardly of this are a pair of upwardly extending arms 18 fulcrumed at 20 to the head 10 and arranged to engage the edge of the shank portion of the sole of the shoe immediately forward of the heel breast line to position the shoe transversely in the machine. The arms 18 are provided at their lower ends adjacent to their fulcrums 20 with a pair of arms 22 extending toward each other and having at their adjacent ends intermeshing gear sectors 24 so arranged that the two arms will at all times have equal and opposite movement. Anchored at one end to one of the arms 22 is a tension spring 26 which is anchored at the other end of the head 10 of the machine. Depending from the other arm 22 is a rod 28 provided with a collar 30 and extending into a sleeve 32 pivoted at its lower end to a treadle 34. A spring 36 anchored at its upper end to the head 10 of the machine and at its lower end to the sleeve 32 tends to raise the sleeve 32 and hence to raise the collar 30, the rod 28, and the arms 22, thus tensioning spring 26 and holding the upper ends of the arms 18 apart. When the treadle 34 is depressed, however, sleeve 32 moves downwardly permitting the lowering of collar 30 and rod 28. Spring 26 is thus permitted to move the upper ends of levers 18 toward each other and into engagement with the edges of the sole just fo ward of he h el breast line.

A stop 38 carried by the head of the machine is positioned in the path of movement of an adjustable stop illustrated as a screw 40 carried by one of the arms 18 and limiting the movement of the upper ends of arms 1.8 toward each other. Thus it will be apparent that arms 18 serve to center in the machine a shoe the rear of which is positioned by gage 14.

The adjacent inner ends of plates 12 are concave as illustrated at 42 and taper so that the forward edges 44 which extend approximately to the heel breast line of a shoe to be operated upon shall be thin enough so as not substantially to disturb the rear end of the sole attaching seam of the shoe, thus avoiding a strain or other injury to the seam. Cooperating with the inner ends of plates 12 is a vertically 'movable hold-down member 46 (Figs. 1 and 8 to 10) carried by a slide block 48 adjustably connected by a screw 50 to a second slide block '52, the blocks 48 and 52 being mounted in vertical ways 54 carried by an upwardly extending support 56. Fulcrumed at 58 to support 56 is a lever 60 (Figs.

1 and 6) connected at 62 to the'slide block 52 so as to raise and lower the hold-down member 46 as the lever 60 is rocked. A second end to a lever 68 to which is fixed an oscillating sector 7 0 fulcrumed at 72 to the head 10 of the machine and provided with a cam groove having an eccentric portion 74 and a portion 7 6 concentric with the axis of fulcrum 72. Sector is pivoted at 78 to a treadle rod 80. A rocking lever 82 fulcrumed at 84 to the head 10 of the machine is connected at its ends to links 86, 88 extending in opposite directions and pivoted at 90 to slides 13 which carry plates 12 (Figs. 1 and 2). The rocking lever 82 is provided with acam roll 92 positioned in the cam track 7 4, 76. The arrangement is such that upon the depression of the trea-dle connected to the rod the two solesupporting plates 12 move inwardly toward each other into a position underneath the heel-seat portion of the sole but, on account of the thin forward edges of plates 12, without injuring the sole attaching seam adjacent to the heel breast line. As the depression of the treadle continues cam roll 92 passes into the concentric portion 76 of the cam groove andplates 22 come to rest in the position shown in F ig. 2, further movement of the treadle, however, being utilized to control the operation of other parts of the machine.

Mounted for sliding movement to engage with the upper surfaces of plates 12 are a pair of trimming and bevelling knives '100 the cutting edges 102 of which are of the shape shown in Fig. 3 and extend from the heel breast line of the shoe to be operated upon substantially to the rear end of the sole.

These knives are reciprocated in paths parallel to plates 12 by a mechanism which will later be described, the movement of one knife 100 being somewhat in advance of the other so that the first knife is partially withdrawn before the second knife reaches the point where the paths of movement of the two knives intersect.

Mounted upon the top of a pair of brackets 104 carried by the slides 13 upon the head 10 of the machine are a pair of knife-carriers 106 each adjustable about an axis perpendicularly to the top face of bracket 104 so that knives 108, carried by knife-carrier 106 and which act to cut a heel breast receiving abutment at the heel breast line, may be adjusted to cause the angle of the cut, as viewed from above the sole, to be at the desired angle to the sole edge. For this purpose each knife-carrier 106 is connected to a bracket 104 by a pair of bolts the heads of which slide in arcuate grooves 110 formed 'in brackets 104. In the knife-carrier 106 is formed a guideway in which a knife slide 112 reciprocates toward and from the sole of the shoe to be operated upon. The outer end of knife slide 112 has fixed to it a block 114 (Fig. 2) connected by an adjustable eccentric device 116 and a link 118 to the forward end of a lever 120 fulcrumed at 122 to the frame of the machine and connected at its rear end by a shackle 124 to the arm of an eccentric strap '126 which embraces an eccentric 128 fast upon drive shaft 130. A'second eccentric 132 upon drive shaft 130 is provided with an eccentric strap 134 similarly connected to a lever 136 (the forward part of which is broken away in Fig. 2) connected at its forward end to the knife-carrier 106 upon the other side of the machine. The two eccentrics 128 and 132 are set somewhat more than 180 sides of the machine do not reach their innermost positions at the same time. At the rear of the machine shaft 130 may be connected to a constantly rotating pulley or other source of power by a onejrevolution clutch controlled by a hand lever 138.

Knives 102 are adj ustably clamped to knife slides 112 by means of clamp screw 140 gliig 3) passing through slots in the rear en s of the knives. Knives 108 are adjustably connected to slides 112 by connections which include means for varylng the angle which the knives 108 make with the surface of the sole so that the heel breast receiving abutments, indicated at 142 in Fig. 7 cut by the knives 108 can be made vertical with respect to the surface of the sole or at an angle thereto, for example undercut as shown at 144. For this purpose a bracket 146 is fixed to knife slide 106 and has at its inner end a convex-surfaced arcuate portion 148 (Figs. 4 and '5)- upon which is mounted a saddle 150 provided with a slot 152 through which passes ascrew 154 which -may enter either one of a plurality of 148 of the bracket 146.

n 156 having a channel formed to receive the knife 108 and in which that knife is secured by a screw and slot connection 158. Conveniently, the cutting edge of the knife 108 may be angled as shown 1n Fig. 4 relatlvely to the lane of the heel end of the sole so that as the knife 108 advances it makes a slicing cut, the leading portion of the cutting edge being higher than the trailing portion and the lowest point of the trailing portion being in the plane of the cutting edge 102 of the corresponding knife 100. As illustrated I the shoulder-ing knives 108 act inadvance ot the beveling knives 100. By ad usting the eccentric device 116 knife-slides 112.can be adjusted toward and from the median line of the machine thus providing accurate ad ustment of knives 100 and 108.

It will be understood that knives 100 and 108 are duplicated upon the opposite sides of the machine, and that the shape of the two knives 100 are such that the beveling cuts which they make at the rear end of the heelseat overlap so as to cause the trimming operation to be performed completely by a single reciprocation of the knives, the sole thus being beveled as shown at 159, Fig.7. In this connection it should be stated that knives 108 are shown upon the left-hand side of Figs. 1 and 2 but have been omitted from the righthand side of those figures in order not to obstruct the view of the parts back of those knives.

The illustrated machine is provided with mechanism which will now be described to insure that the form to which the heel-seat of a shoe is trimmed shall correspond to that of the heel which is to be attached to the shoe. This mechanism comprises two portions, a heel gage portion and a sole locating portion. The heel gage portion is mounted upon a bracket 221 shown at the left-hand side of Figs. 1 and 2 and includes two forwardly ex tending clamp arms 223 mounted upon vertical pivots 224 carried by the bracket 221, the arms 223 having inwardly extending portions carrying at their ends intermeshing gear sectors 227. One of the arms 223 is pulled rearwardly by a spring 229 connected at one end to the arm and at the other to the bracket 221 so that the forward ends of the arms 223 will engage opposite sides of a heel placed upon the bracket 221 and will center the heel. For this purpose arms 223 preferably act upon the heel, illustrated at 220 in Fig. 2, adjacent to its breast.

Carried by the bracket 221 in front of the clamping arms 223 is a heel breast gage 231 against which the breast of the heel which is to be attached to the shoe to be operated upon, or a heel like that heel, is placed. The rear portion of the heel is engaged by a floating necessarily the same in every instance, for

example if the heels are unsymmetrical.

) In order to insure that the floating gage member 233 shall contact properly with the rear end of the heel whatever be the length of the heel, gage member 233 ismounted upon a carrier 235 which is adjustable forwardly and rearwardly, longitudinally of the heel, by means of a rack on its underside which is engaged and moved by a pinion 237 fixed to a shaft 239 extending transversely of the rear of the machine and provided at one end with a'hand wheel 241 by means of which it may be rotated to adjust floating gage member 233 in accordance with the length of the heel to be attached to the shoe.

The sole locating portion of this mechanism includes the end gage 14 with its V- shaped shoe-engaging opening 16. The gage 14 is connected by a link 255 to an arm 258 projecting from the floating gage 233. Thus gage 14 is'moved transversely of the machine by movement of gage 233. In this way the extreme heel end of the shoe is positioned laterally, the shoe being centered, however, substantially at the heel breast line by means of the upper ends of arms 18 as already described. The gage 14 is connected by screw and slot connections 253 to a rack slide 257 engaging with a pinion 259 carried by a shaft 260 connected by a coupling 261 to the shaft 239 so that the two gages will be moved together in accordance with the length of the heel. and the heel-seat portion of the sole of the shoe will therefore be trimmed in accordance with the length of the heel. To permit relative adjustment of the gage members 14 and 233 in directions lengthwise of the shoe to be operated upon so that the bevel 159 to which the heel-seat is trimmed may extend to a position a greater or lesser distance from the rear end of the shoe, the gage 233 may be connected to its carrier 235 by means of a slide 243 adjustable relatively to the carrier 235 by means of a hand screw 245.

In order to give a visual signal when a shoe is correctly placed in the machine. the coupling between shafts 239 and 260 is illustrated as comprising a pairof indicators consisting of hollow collars 280, 282 connected to their respective shafts and housing a coiled spring 284, the ends of the coiled spring 284 he has forced gage 14 far enough rearwardly.

to cause marks 286, 288 to come into alinement, thus indicating that the shoe is correctly positioned.

To facilitate the operation of the machine upon shoes the soles of which are thin or relatively soft and flabby, the hold-down de vice 46 may be made of the form indicated more fully in Figs. 8, 9. and 10. It will be.

noted by referenceto these figures that the hold-down devices 46 is formed to engage a substantially T-shaped area at the rear of the sole, the cross bar of the T extending transversely of the sole immediately forward of the heel breast line as indicated at 300 in Fig. 10 and the stem of the T extending rearwardly therefrom as indicated at 302. In order to get a secure hold upon the sole 304 of the shoe, the cross bar 303 of the T-shaped end of the hold-down member 46 is given a concave formation as indicated at 306 corresponding to the transverse curvature of the sole of a shoe adacent to the heel breast line, and is of such a length as to extend beyond the edges of the sole. The rearwardly extending arm 308 of the holddown member is convex at its extreme rear end as indicated at 310 in Fig. 9 so as to permit the upward displacement of the rear end of the sole so that the beveling may extend to the dotted line 312 of Fig. 10. Since knives 108 operate in advance of knives 100, the fact that the forward portion of the holddown member 46 extends to and beyond the edges of the sole will not interfere with the upward displacement of the edge of the sole to the rear of the heel breast line.

The operation of the machine may be briefly summarized as follows :-The operator having adjusted the floating gage member 233 forwardly or rearwardly by means of the hand screw 245 according to the type of shoe to be operated upon, takes the heel allocated to the shoe upon which he is going to form a heel-seat and places it between the arms. 223 of the heel-gaging portion of the locating mechanism, with the heel breast against the breast gage 231. He then, by means of the hand wheel 241, adjusts the carrier 235 of the floating gage member 233 forwardly until the gage grips the rounded rear end of the heel, the floating gage member 233 during its adjustment moving laterally if necessary. In this way the back gage 14 is also located in correct forward and lateral osi-i tion. The operator then places the shoe, eelend first, in between the up er ends of the arms 18, moving it rearwar y until its rear end contacts with and is positioned by the back gage 14, arms 18 upon initial depression of the treadle 34 centering the shoe transe Y versely at about the heel breast line as already described, and causes the slides 13 to.

carry the plates 12 into position beneath the heel-seat portion of the sole of the shoe. Upon further depression of the treadle the presser member 46 descends to clamp the end of the sole upon the plates 12 and by reason of its shape and of the concave shape of the sole-supporting portions 42 of the plate 12 bulges the whole margin of the heel end of the sole somewhat away from the shoe. The

operator next moves the clutch lever 138 to rotate the driving shaft which causes movement of one knife-carrier 106 and the knives 100 and 108 carried thereby inwardly to skive one half of the heel-seat and at the same time to form a shoulder at the breast line, and also of the other knife carrier 106 and the knives 100 and 108 carried thereby to perform a similar operation upon the other side of the heel-seat after the first so as to avoid contact between the overlapping portions of the beveling knives 100. It should be noted that the shouldering knives 108 are ad'usted respectively to sever the skiving at the reast line and to form the cut at the correct angle to the edge of the sole and to the general plane of the sole just ahead of the actionof the corresponding beveling knives 100. The knife carrier 106 having been "returned to initial position, the operator releases the treadle 34 to raise the presser member 46 and to withdraw supporting plates 12, after which he withdraws the shoe from'the machine.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a sole supporting plate arranged to be received between the loose heel-seat'portion of the sole of a shoe and the lasted-in margin of the counter portion of the upper and the insole of the shoe to the shank and forepart of which the sole is attached and constructed to support the sole substantially from its edge to its median portion, a presser member arranged to engagethe tread surface of the heel-seat portion of the sole opposite said supporting plate to clamp the sole to the supporting plate, and means for trimming surplus material from the peripheralportion of the heel-seat of the sole thus and the insole ofa shoe to the shank and forepart of which the sole is attached and constructed to support the sole substantlally from its ed e to its median portion, and a beveling knife movable substantially transversel of the sole to bevel and trim sur lus materlal from the peripheral portion 0 its heel-seat. 1

3. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a pair of sole supporting plates arranged to be introduced between the loose heel-seat portion of the sole of a shoe and the lasted-in margin of the counter portion of the upper and the insole of the shoe to the shank and forepart of which the sole is attached and constructed to support the sole substantially from its edge to its median portion, a presser member arranged to engage the tread surface of the heel-seat portion of the sole opposite said supporting plates to clam the sole to the supporting plates, and a pair of knives mounted for movement substantially transversely of the sole of the shoe, one from each side, to bevel the peripheral portion of the heel-seat of the sole thus clamped.

4. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, means for deforming the heelseat portion of a sole of a shoe arranged to force the marginal portion of the heel-seat of the sole away from the lasted-in margin of the counter portion of the shoe upper and to retain the center of the heel-seat portion of the sole approximately in its normal position, and a pair of beveling knives mounted for movement substantially transversely of the sole of the shoe to trim surplus material from and to bevel the peripheral portion of the heel-seat of a sole thus distorted, the cutting edge of each knife reaching substantially from the heel breast line to the rear end of the sole and being so formed that a single reciprocation of the knives will bevel substantially the entire periphery of the heel-seat portion of the sole.

5. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, means for deforming the heelseat portion of a sole attached to a shoe arranged to force the marginal portion of the heel-seat of the sole away from the lasted-in margin of the counter portion of the shoe upper and to retain the center of the heelseat portion of the sole approximately in its normal position, and a pair of knives mounted for movement substantially transversely across the heel-seat portion of the sole, one from each side and from the attaching face toward the tread surface of the sole, the cutting edge of each knife reaching substantially from the heel breast line to the rear end of the sole and being formed so that a single reciprocation of the knives Will bevel substantially the entire periphery of the heelseat portion of the sole.

6. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in

combination, a pair of supporting plates arranged to be received between the heel-seat portion of a sole and the lasted-in margin of the counter portion of the upper of a shoe to which the shank and forepart of the sole iszstitched and to support substantially the whole of the heel-seat portion of the sole, said plates tapering toward their forward edge so as to permit them to reach substantially to the ends of the sole attaching seam of the shoe without loosening the seam, a presser member arranged to engage the tread surface of the heel-seat portion of the sole to clamp the sole to said supporting plates, and means for trimming surplus material from the periphery of the heel-seat portion of the sole thus clamped.

7. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a pair of supporting plates arranged to enter between the heel-seat portion of a sole and the lasted-in margin of the counter portion of the upper of a shoe to which the shank and forepart of the sole are attached and to support substantially the whole of the heel-seat portion of the sole, said plates tapering toward their forward edge so as to permit them to reach substantially to the end of the sole attaching seam of the shoe without loosening the sole attaching seam, a presser member arranged to engage the tread surface of the heel-seat portion of the sole to clamp the sole to said supporting plates, means for beveling the periphery of the heel-seat portion of the sole thus clamped, and means for forming a pair of heel breast receiving shoulders at the heel breast line of the sole.

8. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a pair of oppositely inclined knives arranged one upon each side of the heel-seat portion of a shoe to be operated upon, and means for moving said knives substantially transversely across the sole and from the attaching surface toward the tread surface of the sole, the cutting edge of each knife reaching substantially from the heel breast line to the rear end of the sole and being formed so that a single reci rocation of the knives will bevel substantial y the entire periphery of the heel-seat portion of the sole.

9. A heel-seat fittin machine having a pair of oppositely incline knives arranged upon opposite sides of a shoe to be operated upon, the cutting edge of each knife extending substantially from the heel breast line to the rear end of the sole of the shoe, and means for reciprocating first one and then the other of the knives substantially transversely of the shoe in a path inclined from the attaching surface toward the tread surface of the sole as the knives cut through the sole.

10. A heel-seat fitting machine having in combination, a pair of oppositely inclined knives arranged one upon each side of the heel-seat portion of a shoe to be operated from the attaching face toward. the tread surface of the sole, the cutting edge of each knife reaching substantially from the'heel -breast line to the rear end of the sole and being formed so that a single reci rocati'on of the knives willbevel substantial y the entire periphery of the heel-seat portion of'the sole, andmeans for forming heel breast receiving shouldersat the forward extremities of the bevel. j

11. A heel-seat fitting machine having a pairof oppositel inclined knives arranged upon opposite si es of a'shoe to be operated .upon, each [knife extending substantially from the heel breast line to the rear end of the soleof the shoe, means for reciprocating first one and then the other of the knives substantially transversely of the shoe in a path inclined from the attaching surface toward the tread surface of the sole as the knives cut through thesole, and a pair of cutters arcombination, means for deforming the heelranged for movement transversely of the sole to cut a pair of heel breast engaging shouldei's in the sole.

12. A heel-seat fittig ig machine having, in

combination, shoe positioning means, a'pair moving said plates toward each other to cause 1 them to support substantially the whole of the heel-seat portion of the sole of theshoe,

a presser member co-operating with said plates to clamp the heel-seat portion of the sole of the shoe, a pair of transversely movable knives, one upon each side of the shoe, extending substantially from the heel breast line to the rear end of the sole, and means for reciprocating said knives to bevel and to trim surplus material from the periphery of the heel-seat portion of the sole. I

13. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, shoe positioning means, a pair of plates arranged to be introduced between the loose heel-seat portion of a sole the shank and forward portion of Which is attached to a shoe and the lasted-in edge of the counter portion of the upper of the shoe, the sole engaging surface of each plate being concave and each plate being tapered toward its .for- Ward edge so as to avoid injury to the sole attaching means adjacent to the heel breast line, means for moving said plates toward each other to cause them to support substantially the whole of the heel-seat portion of the sole of the shoe, a presser member cooperating with said plates to clamp and distort the heel-seat portion of the sole of the heel-seat portion of the sole.

14. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in comb nation, means for' deforming the heelseat portion of a sole attached to a shoe arranged to force the marginal portion of the heel seat of the sole away from the lastedin margin of the counter portion of the shoe upper and to retain the center of the heelseat portion of the sole approximately in its normal position, means for bevelingthe marinal portion of the heel-seat while said deforming means remain stationary, and means for forming in the sole an undercut, transversely-extending, heel breast receiving iabutment in the vicinity of the heel breast line. I

15. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in

sole away from the lasted-in margin of the counter portion of the shoe upper and to retain the center of the heel-seat portion of the sole approximately in its normal position, means for beveling the marginal portion of the heel-seat while said deforming means re- 7 main stationary, and a knife arranged for movement substantially transversely of the sole and having its cutting edge formed and arranged to produce an undercut heel breast receiving abutment in the vicinity of the heel breast line of the sole.

16. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a pair of oppositely inclined knives arranged one upon each side of the heel-seat portion of a shoe to be operated upon, means for moving said knives substantially transversely across the sole and from the attaching face toward the tread surface'of the sole, the cutting edge of each knife reaching substantially from the heel breast line to the rear end of the sole and being formed so that a single reciprocation of the knives will bevel substantially the entire periphery of the heel-seat portion of the sole, and a transversely movable knife arranged for reciprocation in a path corresponding to the heel breast line of the sole to cut a heel breast receiving abutment in the sole at the forward extremities of the beveled portion.

17. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a pair of oppositely inclined knives arranged one upon each side of the heel-seat portion of a shoe to be operated upon, means for moving said knives substantially transversely acros the sole and from the attaching face toward the tread surface of the sole, the cutting edge of each knife reaching substantially from the heel breast line to the rear end of the sole and being formed so that a single reciprocation of the knives will bevel substantially the entire periphery of the heel-scat portion of the sole, and a pair of transversely movable knives substantially in alinement with the forward edges of the first-named knives arranged for reciprocation in paths corresponding to the end portions of the heel-breast l1ne of-the sole to cut a pair of heel breast receiving shoulders at the forward extremities of the beveled portion.

18. A heel-seat fitting machine having, 1n combination, apair of plates arranged to enter between the heel-seat portion of a sole and the lasted-in margin of the counter portion of the up er of a shoe to which the shank and the orepart of the sole is attached and to support substantially the whole of the heel-seat portion of the sole, said plates tapering toward their forward edges so as to permit them to reach substantially to the sole attaching means adjacent to the'heel breast line without loosening the attachment of the sole forward of the heel breast line, a presser member arranged to engage the tread surface of the heel-seat portion of the sole to clamp the sole to said* supporting plates, and a pair of knives mounted for movement substantially transversely of the sole of the shoe, one from each side, and from the attaching face toward the tread surface of the sole, to bevel the peripheral portion of the heel-seat of the sole thus clamped.

19. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in-

combination, a pair of plates arranged to enter between the heel-seat portion of a sole and the lasted-in margin of the coun-'- ter portion of the upper of a shoe to which the shank of the forepart of the sole is attached to support the heel-seat portion of the sole, said plates tapering toward their forward edges so as to permit them to reach substantially to the sole attaching means ad'- jacent to the heel breast line without loosening the attachment of the sole forward of the heel breast line, a presser member arranged to engage the tread surface of the heel-seat portion of the sole to clamp the sole to said supporting plates, a pair of knives mounted for movement substantially transversely across the sole of the shoe, one from each side, and from the attaching face toward the tread surface of the sole, to bevel peripheral 'portion of the heel-seat of the sole thus clamped, and a cutter arranged to cut a heel breast re ceiving abutment at the heel breast line.

20. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a back gage arranged to engage the rear end of a shoe to be operated upon and to position the shoe longitudinally, a pair of gaging fingers arranged to engage opposite edge surfaces of the sole of the shoe forward of the heel breast line thereby to position the shoe transversely, and means for,

both longitudinally and transversely, a pair of gaging fingers arranged to engage opposite edge surfaces of the sole of the shoe forward of the heel breast line thereby to position the .shoe transversely, and means for beveling the periphery of the heel-seat of a shoe thus positioned 22. A machine for operating on shoes having meansfor supporting a shoe and a holddown member formed to engage the rear portion of the tread surface of the sole of a shoe carried by said supporting means over a substantially T-shaped area with the cross-bar of the T somewhat forward of the heel breast line and the stem of the T extending along thle median line of the heel-seat portion of the so e.

23. A heel-seat fitting machine having means for supporting the heel-seat portion of the sole of a shoe, a hold-down member formed to engage the rear portion of the tread surface of the sole of a shoe carried by said supporting means over a substantiallv T-shaped area with the cross-bar of the T somewhat forward of the heel breast line and the stem of the T extending along the median line of the heel-seat portion of the sole, and means for trimming surplus material from the periphery of-the heel-seat of a sole thus held. 4

24 A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, means for supporting the heelseat portion of the sole of a shoe, and a holddown member arranged for engagement with the attaching surface of the sole, said hold-down member having a substantially T-shaped end with the cross-bar of the T concave toconform to the transverse curvature of the tread surface of the sole of a shoe in the vicinity of the heel breast line and with the stem of the T extending rearwardly and convex at its rear end so as to permit the rear end of the sole to be bent upwardly away from the lasted-in, margin of the counter portion of the shoe upper.

25. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, means for supporting the heelseat portion of the sole of a shoe, and a holddown member arranged for engagement with the attaching surface of the sole, said hold-down member having a substantially T-shaped end with the crossbar of the T concave toconform to the transverse curvature of the tread surface of the sole of a shoe in the vicinity of the heel breast line and with the stem of the T extending rear wardly and convex at its rear end so as to permit the rear end of the sole to be bent upwardly away from the lasted-in margin of the counterportion of the shoe upper, and a pair of knives movable transversely of a sole thus held to trim surplus material from and to bevel the eriphery of the heel-seat portion of the so e.

26. A hold-down member formed to engage the rear end of the sole of a shoe and having a substantially T-shaped sole engaging portion, the cross-bar of-the T being arranged to extend transversely across the sole in the vicinity of thenheel breast line and the stem of the T to extend from the cross-bar toward the rear end of the sole of the shoe. 27. A hold-down member formed to engage the rear portion of the sole of a shoe 5 and having a substantially T-shaped sol'e engaging portion with the cross-bar of the T concave and the end of the stem of the T remote from the cross-bar convex.

28. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, means for trimming surplus material from'the periphery of the heel-seat portion of the sole of a shoe, a back gage arranged to position a shoe relatively to the trimming means, a heel gage having an approximately V-shaped memberto engage the rear end of the heel and to be positioned transversely by the heel, a memberto engage the breast of the heel, means for relatively adjusting said heel engaging members lengthwise of a heel such as to be attached to the shoe to be operated on to cause them both to contact with the heel, and connections from one of the said heel engaging members to the back gage to adjust the position of the back gage longitudinally and traversely of the heel in accordance with the relative position of the heel engaging members.

29. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, means for trimming surplus material from the periphery of the heel-seat portion of the sole of a shoe, adjustable shoe positioning means for controlling the extent of the heel-seat fitting operation, a heel gage comprising a longitudinally and transversely movable approximately V-shaped member to engage the rear of a heel and a member to engage the breast of the heel, adjusting means for the V-shaped member whereby said members can be relatively adjusted to cause them both to contact with a heel placed between them, and connections between the movable heel engaging member and the shoe positioning means to position the latter lengthwise of the shoe to be operated on in accordance with the length of theheel in the heel gage and transversely of the shoe in accordance with the transverse position of the V-shaped member. 30. A machine for use in the manufacture of shoes having, in combination, movable means for positioning a shoe to be operated upon, a heel gage provided with means to centralize a heel in the gage, means to measure the length of a heel thus centralized including a member movable widthwise of the heel to assume a symmetrical. relation to the centered heel, and connections fromsaid widthwise movable member to the shoe positioning means arranged to position the rear end of the shoe. transversely in the machine in accordance withthe osition of the widthwise movable member 0 the heel gage.

31. A machine for use in the manufacture of shoes having, in combination, means for fittlng the heel-seat portion of the sole of a shoe for the attachment of a wood heel, movable means for positioning a shoe to be operated upon, a heel gage provided with a pair of fingers co-operating to centralize a heel in the gage, means to measure the length of a heel thus centralized including a member movable widthwise of the heel and having a substantially .V-shaped surface arranged to engage the rear of the heel to cause said member to assume a symmetrical relation to the centered heel, .and connections from said widthwise movable member to the shoe posltionm means arranged to position the rear end 0 the shoe transversely in the machine in accordance with the position of the widthwlse movable member of the heel gage. v

32. A machine for use in the manufacture of shoes having, in combination, a moveable gage member ranged to position a shoe to be operated u jo$oh a second movable gage member arranged t0cooperate with the first gage member, and two indices adjacent to each other, one being connected to each of the gage members and one being movable wlth the corresponding ga e member, said ndices bemg arranged to e positioned in alinement with each other when the two gage members are positioned in cooperating relatlon to each other.

' 33. A machine for use in the manufacture of shoes having, in combination, a movable gage member arranged to position a shoe to be operated upon, a second movable gage member arranged to cooperate with the first gage member, a pair of indicators adjacent to each other, one being connected to each of the gage members and movable therewith, and an index carried by each of the indicators, said indices being arranged to be positioned in alinement with each other when the gage members are positioned in cooperating relation to each other.

34;. A machine for use in the manufacture of shoes having, in combination, a movable gage member arranged to position a shoe to be operated upon, a second movable gage member arranged to cooperate with the first gage member, and two indicators adjacent to each other, one being connected to each of the gage members and-each being movable with the corresponding gage member, each indicator being provided with an index and said indices being arranged to be positioned in alinement with each other when the two gage members are positioned in cooperating relation to each other.

35. A machine for use in the manufacture of shoes having, in combination, a movable back gage arranged to position a shoe to be operated upon, a spring tending to move said back gage forwardly, a movable member connected to the back gage and provided with indicating means, a second movable gage member, and indicating means con nected to said second movable gage member, the connections from the two indicating means to the respective gages being such that the two indicating means are in alinement when the two gages are in proper relative position for the performance of an operation upon a shoe posltioned bythe back gage.

36. A machine for use in the manufacture of shoes having, in combination, two movable gage members, two racks, one connected to each of the gage members, a pair of axially alined shafts positioned adjacent to each other, a pair of pinions carried by the respective shafts and meshing with the respectlve racks, a pair of collars at the adjacent ends of the shafts, and a spring having its ends anchored to the respective collars and thereby tending to move the two gage members to non-corresponding positions, each of the collars being provided with an index and the two indices being positioned in alinement whenthe two gage members are in corresponding positions.

37. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, means for trimmin surplus material from the eripheral portion of the heel-seat of the so e of a shoe presented to the machine, a back gage for positioning shoes relatively to the trimming means and movable-to permit the proper positioning of shoes of different sizes, a heel-measuring gage including a movable gage member, an indicator "connected to said movable gage member, and a second indicator connected to the back age and arranged to assume 'a definite visua ly-recognizable relation to said first-named indicator when the back gage is in a position appropriate to the performance of the heel-seat fitting operation upon a shoe to which a heel like that measured by the heel gage is to be attached. a

38. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, means for trimming surplus material from the peripheral portion of the heel-seat of the sole of a shoe, two movable gage members, the first being arranged to engage a heel to measure its length and the second being arranged to position a shoe for the heel-seat fitting operation in accordance with the setting of the first, and two indices adjacent to each other, one connected to each of the gage members and movable therewith, said indices being arranged to be positioned in alinement with each other when the gage members are positioned in cooperating relation with each other so that a shoe positioned by the second gage member will be in such relation to said trimming means that the trimming means when operated will fit its heel-seat for the attachment of a heel like that measured by the firstgage member.

39. A heelsseat fitting machine having, in combination means for trimming surplus material from the peripheral portion of the heelseat of the sole of a shoe, a movable back gage arranged to position the shoe to be operated upon relatively to the trimming means, a spring tending to move said back gage forwardly, a movable member connected to the back gage and provided with an index, a heelmeasuring gage provided with a movable gage member, and an index connected to said movable heel-measuring gage member, the connections from the two indices to the respective gages being such that the two indices are in alinement when the back gage is in proper position for the performance of the heel-seat fitting operation upon a shoe Which is to receive a heel like that measured by the heel gage.

40. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, means for trimming surplus material from the periphery of the heel-seat portion of the sole of a shoe, a heel gage having a pair of heel engaging members one of which is movable toward and from the other to permit both said members to be brought into contact with the heel such as is to be attached to the shoe to be operated on, a movable member connected with said movable ga e member and positioned by movement oi the movable gage member in accordance with the length of a heel contacted by the gage members, a movably mounted back gage to position the shoe to be operated upon relatively to the trimming means, means tending to move said back gage forwardly and adapted to permit rearward pressure of the shoe to move the back gage rearwardly, and a movable member connected to the back gage and thereby caused to assume a position in accordance with the position of the back gage, said movable members each being provided with an index and the two indices being brought into alinement when the back gage reaches a position corresponding to that of the movable gage member and appropriate to position a shoe which is to be fitted for the reception of a heel like that in the heel age.

41. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a plate having a recessed supporting portion arranged to be received between the loose heel-seat portion of the sole of a shoe and the lasted-in margin of the counter portion of the upper and the insole of a shoe to the shank and the forepart of which the sole is attached to support the sole substantially from its edge to its median portion,

and a beveling knife movable substantially transversely of the sole to bevel and trim surplus material from the peripheral portion of its heel-seat,

42. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a plate having a recessed supporting portion arranged to be received between the loose heel-seat portion of the sole of a shoe and the lasted-in margin of the counter portion of the upper and the insole of the shoe to the shank and the forepart of which the sole is attached, a presser member arranged to engage the tread surface of the heel-seat portion of the sole opposite said plate to clamp the sole against the recessed supporting portion of the plate, and means for trimming surplus material from the peripheral portion of the heel-seat portion of the sole thus clamped. I

43. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a pair of sole-supporting plates arranged to be introduced between the loose heel-seat portion of the sole of a shoe and the lasted-in margin of the counter portion of 5 the upper and the insole of the shoe to the shank and the forepart of which the sole is attached, said plates havingconcave portions to support the sole, a presser member arranged to engage the tread surface of the heelseat portion of the sole opposite said supporting plates to clamp the sole against the supporting plates, for movement substantially transversely of the sole ofthe shoe, one from each side, to bevel the peripheral portion of the heel seat thus clamped.

44. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a pair of solesupporting p ates arranged to be introduced between the loose heel-seat portion of the sole of a shoe and the lasted-in margin of the counter portion of the upper and the insole of the shoe to the shank and the forepart of which the sole is attached, said plates having concaved portions to support the sole substantially from its edge to its median portion, a presser member arranged to engage the tread surface of the heel-seat portion of the sole opposite said supporting plates to clamp the sole against the concave portions of the supporting plates,

and means for trimming sur lus material from the peripheral portion 0 the heel-seat of the sole thus clamped.

45. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a pair of sole-supporting plates arranged to be introduced between the loose heel-seat portion of the sole of a shoe and the lasted-in margin of the counter portion of the upper and the insole of the shoe to the shank and the forepart of which the sole is attached, said plates having concaved portions to support the sole substantially from its edge to its median portion, a presser member arranged to engage the tread surface of the heel-seat portion of the sole opposite said and a pair of knives mounted supporting plates to clamprthe sole against the concave portions of the supporting plates, and a pair of knives mounted for movement substantially transversely of the sole of the shoe, one from each side, to bevel the heelseat of the sole thus clamped.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this s ecification.

J SEPH GOULDBOURN. FRED RICKS.

CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,742,503. Granted dentistry 7, 193%, to

JOSEPH GOULDBOURN ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, line 22, for the word "devices" read device; page 9, line 36, claim 28, for "heel" read shoe; and line 93, claim 32, for the misspelled word "moveable" read movable; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of November, A. D. 193" M. J, Moore,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

